A Fanciful Twist

Pink + Cobalt Blue {& a Piggy too}

I am so so glad to be back!  I wanted to give guys and gals at least a week to see the Mad Tea Party invite.  Although there is plenty of time to sign up.  I don't know about you, but I have been shuffling trinkets and treats around my house, inspiring myself for tea party planning because...

Truth be told...

I never know what I am entirely going to do for the Mad Tea Party until a few days before the event.  I know I know, I am one risky sorta gal ;)

Right now I am obsessing on one of my fave combinations of all time, which is pink and cobalt blue.  I have always been so attracted to this combo.  I also adore cobalt blue and white patterns, paired up with all shades of candy pink.

And then, there's me wee pig.

Which I schlepped home when I was around 20, and have had him with me ever since. (my sister doesn't like him, isn't that sad?  he is so sweet!)  I am pretending he is the baby pig from Alice in Wonderland, all growed up to be a chef.

One thing that so inpires me is having a stress free day, where I wash floors and dust and bleach everything (I have a small, okay, a large bleach obsession).  And then after everything is clean, I play with my collections, moving things around, re-loving inanimate objects.

Flipping through books and magazines I have stacked high.

I find those sort of days to be my favorite, just being in my space with my stuff, getting all cozy and in my own space happy.

In a glass box I keep one of my most treasured items.  It is a cobalt blue and white tea-set, that comes in a wicker picnic basket where each piece fits in perfectly.  I am sure you have seen those?

Anyhow, this set is so so so so so dear to me.

It belonged to my aunt (mom's sis), who passed away a few years ago.  My aunt's daughters, my two cousins, gifted me the beloved tea-set this past Christmas.

I know, heart strings. 

I am so thankful to those two lovely gal cousins of mine.

Cobalt blue, and white and pink...

Yumms.

Move things here to there, and there to here, and inspiration trickles in...

Plink, plink, zwizzzzle, plink! 

Any thoughts swirling on what you will conjure up...

For this year's mad event?

I am not sure what I will be doing...

Just not sure at all.

Not even one inclination, oh my!

 But playing with this stuff is sparking my imagination.

Oh and, seeds flowering everywhere doesn't hurt either, for a little wonderlandish inspiration.

So much going on around here, mostly garden care and painting.  Getting up super early to squeeze it all in.  Eating lots of treats from the garden.  Tending to 5 pumpkin patches, and 14 different garden areas.  Phewey.

Gophers making me cry all the time. Loving that I have my neighbor to commiserate with (she has them too).  They are so harmful.  Argh.  Sucking my hard work down into the earth (even through wire and rock and more).  The rabbits are being crazy too.  Then again, it hasn't rained forever and a day here, and there is nothing for any animal to eat but what we are watering. So, that's that.  Mister says that the folks who used to live here (ages and ages ago, and grew everything they ate, and canned) said "you will never get rid of the gophers."  Scary Mary!  Zoiks!  Gulp. 

I would just really like to deter them.  You know, convince them to build their dirt mansions somewhere else, far far away.

My neighbor and I keep sending a really cute photo of the gophers back and forth to each other, as to remind ourselves that they are c-c-c-c-cute.

And, hmmm, let's see, the pups are being adorable as heck and Lovee is up to all of his regular shenanigans.

Plus, five pages of projects.

And, that's about it.

;)

How are you all?

Any Mad Tea Party planning goin' on with you?

Okay, must run for now,

See you super soon!

Love, V

 

ps:  I just realized that this is my 601st blog post! Wowie Zowie!

Mad Tea Party 2011 {An Invitation}

It's the maddest time of the year, the maddest time indeed.  Time for preparing for our annual Mad Tea Party.  Tea cups, cakes, crafty garlands, sparkles and more!  As I was preparing to make my way to invite you to join in, I heard a curious sound coming from around the bend...

Who could it be thought me?

Color and magic, song and laughter, filled the air... 

No no, it wasn't Ian McShane, and no, it wasn't Keith Richards either....

Why, it was the Mad Hatter himself!!

What a treat to see him again this year ;)

But wait, what is this?

Why, it's his trusty chicken of course! 

(or is it a rooster?)

They have traveled from far far away, to make it here, to you and me. 

To invite us quite properly...

With the sound of his horn, and the tic toc of his clock...

He cries out with glee!

"Come one, come all, to the 4th annual virtual Mad Tea Party!"

Go mad, go ruffly, throw in some bloomers and tea cups and twirls galore!  Invent things as you go along, and more!  It's mad, it's tea, it's a parteeeeeeeeeee!

What fun, what fun!!!

Winged pigs turn up to celebrate the glorious announcement.

And fluffy furry creatures are also invited to join in!

But wait, wait, what's this we hear?

A swirly, sweet and twisty secret to share? 

Why yes, oh yes!

It's a deliciously sweet and wonderfully frosted secret we get to reveal!

The secret lies within cakes, and super pretty treats.

Edible sweets, and confection delightments beyond our dreams!!

You see, the maker of this cake, happens to be...

 

The super lovely and beloved Rosie, of Sweetapolita.

And guess what?

She is this year's honorary guest.

How lucky for us!

Thank you Rosie!

(that's lovely Rosie below)

Rosie brings such excitement to the party with her "fancy cakes and confections."

Such inspiration for a cakier, bakier, craftier, makier, and madder tea party than ever, don't you think?

I do, I do!

Just look at a few of the treats she creates! 

I put some of her pretty treats together below.

A cake artiste me thinks, for certain!

So this year, let's make it super fun, with lots of homemade goodies, and crafty projects.  What do you say?

Anything goes, as always.

Won't you please join us

on

June 25th, 2011

for

a

Mad

Tea

Party

?

The Mad Hatter made sure to swirl magic into the air, under the full moon, in order to add extra enchantment to this year's event...

Time to whip up some goodness.

I simply can't wait!

Below you will find this year's flyer, and blog button. 

Simply click and save, to use on your own blog.

Alice and the rabbit joined in!

(Flyer)

 

(2 button sizes below)

200 pixels wide

 

150 pixels wide

 

Do you remember the party drill? 

If not, here you go...

Wondering what to do if you sign up?

If you are signing up to participate in the Mad Tea Party all you have to do is leave me a comment, with your blog link, stating that you wish to join in...

Then follow these 4 bits of advice (err, rules)...

1)  Share the flyer and/or the button on your blog as soon as possible and link to me.  I will then add your name to the "Mad Tea Partiers" list in my LEFT hand side bar, and link back to you. 

2)  On the day of the party, June 25th 2011, please make sure to post a Mad Tea Party post of your own, on your blog, linking to me.  Other partiers will be visiting you on that date. 

3)  IMPORTANT - On the day of the party, after you have your own Mad Tea Party blog post up and running, please leave a comment at my Mad Tea Party post, including your "Actual Party Link."  It will serve as an archive of all partier links. 

4)  Blog hop with the other partiers on the day of the event and have a mad blast!

Note:  Please make sure you post a party post on your blog on June 25th if you sign up.  If you sign up and later find that you can't make the event, please let me know and I will remove your name from the list.

So that's that.

Easy as pie ;)

Now...

 

Magic and Whimsy abound!

We hope to all heart hopes that you can make it.

What joy, what fun!

It's mad, it's virtual, it's a party just for you!

Time to get busy ;)

(If you would like to see parties from year's past, click here)

Much love, V

 

ps:  I so tried to get here sooner, but we have had construction in the garden for 3 months of craziness (which got a hair crazier lately).  Plus, a party in the garden last night that took days of planning, and busy busy bee times all day yesterday preparing for the guests.  It was for boys, so I hid at night ;)

But now, now it is time for the Mad Tea Party, and all the wonderment and surprise it brings.  With lots of crafty ideas leading up to the day.  I am so excited, I really am so looking forward to it!

pss:  Important note - I will be adding names to the list every couple of days.  If you don't see your name on the list (after a couple of days), and you want to be on, please contact me.  Sometimes things do slip through the cracks when I upload links, so don't hesitate to let me know, please.  I just noticed a couple of people I added last week, not on the list.  So it does happen.  Just send me a note and I'll take care of it ;)

Rabbits, Flamingos and Gnomes, Oh My!

Exciting tid-bits are being wrapped up in our neck of the woods, as an official party announcement will be here in mere moments (a couple of days).  So much to do, so much going on, so many squeal worthy happenings to share.

However, the grandest news is that YOU GUESSED!

Yes, the Mad Tea Party is about a month away. 

I can't wait, can't wait I say. 

Treats and sparkles and wonderland, who can resist? 

It beckons me, it beckons you!

 

Every year, about a month before the party, all manner of characters show up.  There must have been a memo posted in a mushroom meadow or something, because oodles of gnomes are turning up.  And even better, they are building wee chalets, with plans to stay!

They said they will protect me too, so that's good news!

Secretly, I can't resist, I must reveal that the white rabbit has come to visit me...

And just yesterday, Alice saw me frantic trying to save my computer from a virus disaster, and turned up with cupped delights.  Of course, she asked me not to utter a word...

Okay okay, I know what you are wondering.

What of the Mad Hatter?

Well.

Um.

Ahem.

Yes, he too.

He has so much to tell you in days, less than a few.

Let's just say, we danced under the full moon, ducked in bushes from passersby, ran around the street, in full costume.  Yes yes.

But wait.

I must save some for later.

What about your secrets? 

Are your Mad Tea Party gears churning and turning?

So much to do, so much to do!

The flamingos are eager as eager can be, for proper croquet in the garden...

They are borderline threatening, with their partyness excitement overload...

Things can get kooky with 6 flamingos living in our garden areas ;)

Oh oh, and I almost forgot.

Gus, the hugeish gnome, got lost between here and Michigan, twice.

But finally, he is here, just in time.

He is the party bouncer, butler and valet, for those of you arriving on tricycles and in pumpkin carriages.  And, when he is not doing those things, he runs the karaoke machine and makes fluffy paper flowers.

I don't know how to tell that mad hatter that I am in love with Gus.

Gus.

Be still me heart.

Oh Gus.

Gnome of me wee hearrt (roll your r's there).

I think he won me over with his total belief that he is Gnomey Bennett.

 

I mean Tony.

So, I must skedaddle and finish up the last bits and bobs of planning, so that I can properly invite you, for the maddest most wonderlandest tea we can conjure up.

Oh my, oh me!

Love, V

ps:  The first tall sunflower of the season has bloomed, and guess what?  It is a conjoined twin!

Two flower heads, on one stalk.

 

Tic Toc, Tic Toc!

What's that sound you say?  What's that tugging at your bloomer hem today?  What's that twinkling of your toes & skipping of heart beats?  Why, it's just about that time you see...

 

You do know what I mean, don't you?

I am quite certain you simply must.

I was told you could feel it swirling, and twirling and calling your name.

Checking in glass boxes...

Preparing frocks?

Opening the door to the crystal case... 

Preparing to get ready for the most funnest, the most maddest, the most...

Wait wait...

I can't give it away quite yet.

But I bet you know, yes you do.

Because the most bestest magic lives in you!

It's almost time, almost time indeed.

To let you know about.......

Well, ahem...

You tell me?

 

ps: 

Let's get sillier, and crazier, and more over the top, and madder, and wilder, and frillier, and singier, and dancier, and happier than happy for what's around the corner.

I am in so much need of some sparkling, what about you?

Tic toc, Tic Toc..........

More to come, in one shake of a bunny tale. 

Tail.

Have you guessed?